Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend

Anni Townend
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Leaders in Conversation gives you an intimate glimpse into the real lives of business leaders. This series of candid conversations delves into a deeper side of leadership. Each intimate conversation is hosted by Anni Townend, a leadership partner, executive coach and author who has worked with thousands of business leaders throughout her career and who skilfully connects with her guests to share these inspiring life and leadership stories with you to help build confidence and courage in your own leadership journey. Connect and collaborate with Anni at www.annitownend.com

  1. How can we help leaders to be successful through times of transition and change? A conversation with Marisa Kismul, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Civil Airframe, GKN Aerospace

    FEB 4

    How can we help leaders to be successful through times of transition and change? A conversation with Marisa Kismul, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Civil Airframe, GKN Aerospace

    ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn our conversation Marisa offers valuable insights into:Supporting change and transition for successHelping people be their bestThe link between engagement, development and performanceEquity and fairness in leading change and transition Marisa’s Three Key Encouragements to Leaders:It sounds so simple but really get to know your peopleGreat people and talent come in different forms – there isn’t a single formulaTake time to think about how life can / will change for you and what you want from it and what you might need to do differently or learn. Don’t put things off! And never give up on what you want To connect, follow and find out more about Marisa:LinkedIn: Marisa Kismul Thank youTo listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.collaborationequation.com. To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website, subscribe to my newsletter, and podcast and do follow me on LinkedIn. A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing. If you are not already please do subscribe to the podcast, review and share it. I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

    42 min
  2. A Roadmap for Navigating Life’s Biggest Challenges - a conversation with Lulu Minns, Author of The Genius Wheel®

    JAN 14

    A Roadmap for Navigating Life’s Biggest Challenges - a conversation with Lulu Minns, Author of The Genius Wheel®

    ABOUT THIS EPISODEToday’s guest is Lulu Minns, Fifth Dimension (5D) Teacher and author of The Genius Wheel®. In our conversation Lulu offers valuable insights into:Understanding and aligning with your personal growth cycleLeading from authenticity and claiming your unique geniusIntegrating natural seasonal rhythms with personal and professional growthSupporting women’s wellbeing and empowerment in leadership Lulu’s Three Key Encouragements to Leaders and Listeners:Slow down and tune in.Commitment to your creative power, exceptional intelligence or natural ability.Look back. About LuluI am a 5D teacher and thought leader who helps individuals and organisations understand and align with the deeper patterns that shape personal and collective growth. My body of work, The Genius Wheel®, developed over a decade, explores how consciousness evolves through natural 7-year cycles — a framework that offers clarity, perspective and direction through times of change and transformation. Working from a 5D perspective means seeing beyond surface-level events to recognise the energetic and emotional layers influencing them. I support female entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders to interpret these shifts with awareness and purpose. My approach blends practical action with multidimensional insight, providing a bridge between inner evolution and real-world impact. Through 6-weekly empowerment circles and bi-annual retreats, I help women navigate their unique 7-year journey — providing a roadmap to navigate life’s big transitions. If you don’t already have a copy of The Genius Wheel, you can get one at thegeniuswheel.com and use the discount code FRIENDS25 for a discount. To connect with Lulu follow and learn more about her and her amazing work:LinkedIn: Lulu Minns Website: thegeniuswheel.com Instagram: @thegeniuswheel YouTube: @thegeniuswheel Podcast: She Rebel Radio Substack: @luluminns Thank youTo listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, do go to our website a href="https://www.collaborationequation.com/" rel="noopener...

    35 min
  3. From Inside the Kitchen to Inside Government - a conversation with Mark Burden, Senior Civil Servant

    12/17/2025

    From Inside the Kitchen to Inside Government - a conversation with Mark Burden, Senior Civil Servant

    ABOUT THIS EPISODEToday’s guest is, Senior Civil Servant, Mark Burden. In our conversation Mark offers valuable insights into:How presenteeism is not about visibility The importance of seeking feedbackDisability and the art of the possibleAnd how everyone is integral to achieving the “thing” Mark’s Three Key Encouragements to Leaders and Listeners:Be comfortable in not knowing the answer but having the knowledge to connect peopleMistakes are great - learn from them rather than fearing them. It is an opportunity to move from fear to opportunityTell the story, explain the why and if possible the who and the when! The what bit is then quite easy!  Connect with Mark:LinkedIn: Mark Burden To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend: Go to my website, www.annitownend.com A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing. To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn.  I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

    34 min
  4. What do you have to let go of to let something new in? A conversation with Asad Dhunna Founder and CEO of The Unmistakables

    12/03/2025

    What do you have to let go of to let something new in? A conversation with Asad Dhunna Founder and CEO of The Unmistakables

    About this episode:Today’s guest is Asad Dhunna Founder and CEO of the Unmistakables. In our conversation Asad offers valuable insights into:Creativity Bravery Humour Spirituality Asad’s Key Encouragements to Leaders:Work out what's going on for people.Talk about what makes you nervous.Sometimes you have to let go to let in. To connect, follow and find out more about Asad:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaddhunna/ Website: https://www.theunmistakables.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asaddhunna/ To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend:Go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.collaborationequation.com. A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing. To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn.

    42 min
  5. On lifting People Up – a conversation with Nicola Bettesworth, Defra Chief People Officer, Group Corporate Services, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    11/26/2025

    On lifting People Up – a conversation with Nicola Bettesworth, Defra Chief People Officer, Group Corporate Services, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    ABOUT THIS EPISODEToday’s guest is Nicola Bettesworth, Defra Chief People Officer, Group Corporate Services, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.   I had the joy of meeting Nicola when she was looking for a leadership partner to work with her and her leadership team. We very quickly built our relationship, and have enjoyed a true partnership for a number of years. I greatly admire Nicola, her vision and her passion and am looking forward to her sharing her leadership story today. In our conversation Nicola shares and offers valuable insights into:Contribution and Community;How Everyone Matters, Everyone Counts;The importance of knowing who you are, and of choices;Making every single moment count. To connect with Nicola: Email her on: nicola.bettesworth@defra.gov.uk  To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend:Go to my website: www.annitownend.com A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing, and to Louisa Penny of Penny Writing for the marketing of the podcast. To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn.  I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

    41 min
  6. Collaborations, Partnerships and Passion: A Journey - a conversation with Kate Lowe Founder and Director and Alex Remington, Director of Partnerships at Both Barrels

    11/05/2025

    Collaborations, Partnerships and Passion: A Journey - a conversation with Kate Lowe Founder and Director and Alex Remington, Director of Partnerships at Both Barrels

    ABOUT THIS EPISODEToday’s guest are Kate Lowe Founder and Director and Alex Remington, Director of Partnerships at Both Barrels. In our conversation Kate and Alex offer valuable insights into how their passions and purpose of Family, Relationships, Integrity and Never Giving Up are woven into the fabric of their lives and leadership. Why clients choose Both Barrels:Staying calm no matter what the situation;Keeping the objective in mind when there are setbacks - and ability to pivot;Building big trusting relationships Kate and Alex's Three Key Encouragements to Leaders: Trust and guide your teamSurround yourself with good peopleNever be afraid to admit you don’t know something or when you are wrong About Kate and Alex:KATE LOWE: Kate Lowe is a trusted PR and communications strategist with over 15 years of experience advising senior executives on how to harness sport as a platform to shape personal and organisational narratives. Kate specialises in integrating into businesses to build a deep understanding of their goals, refining complex messaging into clear, impactful communications. Steering clients through the fast-moving world of sport and guiding C-suite leaders in navigating complex media landscapes to protect and enhance brand value. Her established relationships across global sports and sports business media enable close collaboration in crafting messaging that achieves alignment and influence. Her deep understanding of the business and cultural dynamics of sport enables her to build collaborative stakeholder relationships and deliver strategic communications solutions that build reputations and unlock commercial and reputational growth. ALEX REMINGTON: Alex Remington is a strategic partnership leader with over 18 years of experience driving transformative collaborations that position sport as a catalyst for business growth and cultural relevance. A Harvard Business School alumnus, he combines expertise across sport, entertainment, media, and business, applying data and insights to guide commercial decisions and deliver sustainable results. At Manchester United, Alex pioneered “performance partnerships,” redefining sponsorships as performance-driven collaborations integrating elite technology from sponsor brands into sporting operations. He specialises in designing integrated strategies that align sporting operations with business objectives, building partnerships that deliver measurable impact, unlock new revenue streams, and create lasting competitive advantage for rights holders and brands. To connect, follow and find out more about Both Barrels, and Kate and Alex:LinkedIn: Both Barrels Website: bothbarrels.co.uk Instagram: @bothbarrelspr To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website a...

    38 min
  7. Step Outside to See Inside: The 3Cs Every Leader Needs: A conversation with Lisa Partridge, communication skills specialist, facilitator & founder of SIXCOMMS

    10/22/2025

    Step Outside to See Inside: The 3Cs Every Leader Needs: A conversation with Lisa Partridge, communication skills specialist, facilitator & founder of SIXCOMMS

    ABOUT THIS EPISODE Today’s guest is Lisa Partridge, communication skills specialist, facilitator, founder of SIXCOMMS and host of the SIXCOMMS podcast. I had the joy of getting to know Lisa through following each other on LinkedIn, and through our shared passion for working in nature with leaders. Lisa invites people to ‘Come Curious, and Leave Connected’. In our conversation Lisa offers valuable insights into: The 3Cs of human-centred effective communication: Connection, Curiosity and Compassion;The benefits of taking conversations outside in nature;How being in nature allows us to listen more deeply and be more present with ourselves and each other;How taking our conversations outside in nature can unlock insight and give us the clarity to see the path ahead. Lisa’s Three Key Encouragements to Leaders: Connection first, always.Step outside to see inside.Slow down to lead strong. About Lisa: Originally from the UK and based in Singapore since 2009, Lisa Partridge is a communication skills specialist, facilitator, and founder of SIXCOMMS. She has worked with leading organisations including Singapore Airlines, Marina Bay Sands, Maxwell Chambers, and ADB Bank. Guided by her 6Cs of Effective Communication: Connection, Curiosity, Compassion, Clarity, Customization, and Consistency, Lisa helps leaders and teams communicate with greater impact. She also hosts The SIXCOMMS Podcast, now with over 70 episodes, and leads 6Cs walking sessions in Singapore’s parks, where a community of professionals “Come Curious, Leave Connected.” To connect, follow and find out more about Lisa: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisasing/ Website: www.sixcomms.org Instagram: @sixcommslisa YouTube: www.youtube.com/@sixcommsconversations2025 Lisa's Podcast: sixcomms.buzzsprout.com Free download: The 6Cs of a Thriving Communicator Guide To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.Collaboration.Equation.

    31 min
  8. Trust in who you are becoming – a conversation with Karen Foy executive coach, mentor, supervisor and author of ‘Breaking the Coaching Code'

    10/08/2025

    Trust in who you are becoming – a conversation with Karen Foy executive coach, mentor, supervisor and author of ‘Breaking the Coaching Code'

    ABOUT THIS EPISODEI had the joy of meeting Karen via an online supervision group organised by EY in collaboration with Henley Business School. Karen has written a book, Breaking the Coaching Code - how great coaches transcend the rules published in November 2025.  In our conversation Karen offers valuable insights into:What it means to walk home to yourself. The journey to and of self-acceptance. And having a social conscience. Karen’s key encouragements to Leaders:Reconnect with your unique self rather than trying to be what you think a good leader isUnderstand your strengths and be clear about your purpose Build your ability to have effective conversations with clarity, compassion, curiosity and courage About  Karen:Karen Foy has been coaching since 2003, her background before coaching was in the NHS working locally, regionally and nationally on policy related to patient experience. She caught the coaching bug on an Open University summer school whilst undertaking a module from the MBA on Creativity, Innovation and Change thinking about creativity innovation and change. She heard about this thing called coaching and thought, that’s the thing she does when she’s supposed to be working and was blown away that she could do it as a career. She trained as a coach, built her business alongside her work, and then jumped in 2007 to become a full-time coach. She already had a first degree in psychology and the next step for her was to undertake a master’s degree in Coaching Psychology which she gained in 2011. She is a Master Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, a Certified Mentor for ICF Credentials and she has a Professional Certificate in Coaching Supervision from Henley Business School. She has recently retired from her lecturing role at Henley Business School where she was the Programme Director for Accredited Coaching Programmes. Joining an academic institution was a crash course in acceptance as she is a Yorkshire woman from a ‘dyed in the wool’ working class background who left school at 14 with no qualifications. She has come to a place where she is more able to welcome her gremlin of not being good enough as the gift it is to her coaching. To connect with Karen:Website: www.thecoachtribe.com LinkedIn: @Karen Foy, MCC To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend: Go to my website, www.annitownend.com A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast. To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn.  To find out more about Collaboration Equation, do go to our website www.collaborationequation.com and follow us on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

    38 min
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Leaders in Conversation gives you an intimate glimpse into the real lives of business leaders. This series of candid conversations delves into a deeper side of leadership. Each intimate conversation is hosted by Anni Townend, a leadership partner, executive coach and author who has worked with thousands of business leaders throughout her career and who skilfully connects with her guests to share these inspiring life and leadership stories with you to help build confidence and courage in your own leadership journey. Connect and collaborate with Anni at www.annitownend.com

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